News from the Hawaii Department of Transportation yesterday is worth noting for visitors and residents who want to park at our island airports. And, a common arrival trick we’ve used ourselves may no longer work. This comes as visitors and residents all gear up to return to Hawaii vacations as Safe Travels sunsets next week on March 26. Unprecedented demand both at spring break and throughout the summer peak season is all but certain.
Hawaii airports have always suffered from overcrowding. Peak summer, prime weekends, and holidays are a time when parking is iffy. And now one airport parking lot is the first to be declared completely full. Read more below.
Prior arrival parking tip in doubt.
One trick that we and countless others have tried is no longer a sure thing. When several people arrive together, and they have substantial luggage, even golf clubs, this worked great. One person would go and get the rental car. The other people would get the luggage. The rental car could be stored in nearby parking (not so much at the non-adjacent CONRAC at HNL) while the other passengers claimed luggage. Then everyone could meet up in the parking lot and help get things underway.
Has Turo become part of the airport parking problem?
One question that comes to mind is whether or not Turo cars parked at the airport could be part of the congestion. It’s our understanding that Turo owners sometimes park cars at the airport to prepare for renters’ arrivals. See an actual example of that below. To the degree that may be true to a larger degree, it could be compounding the problem at Hawaii airport parking.
Turo says that “some airports where you offer delivery may take the position that you must have a permit to use airport premises and remit fees. While Turo does not believe that rental car permits should apply to peer-to-peer car sharing, not all airport authorities agree with this position.” Read on for what Hawaii thinks about all of this.
An interesting case in point here.
A Kauai listing we just found on Turo said, “Skip the rental car shuttle and line! We will provide FREE delivery to the Lihue Airport. The car will be waiting for you in the ABM Airport Parking Lot which is just a short walk across the street from the baggage claim/terminals. Please expect to pay no more than $15 (max) payable to ABM Parking upon pickup. ABM Parking accepts cash or credit card. This makes contactless pickup and drop-off easy and quick for you!
That means that the car might have been parked for up to 24 hours in the very limited airport parking. We aren’t sure that’s legal, and we also don’t have any idea how that could be regulated without an entry booth where an attendant might check boarding passes.
Hawaii is clearly looking at limiting or banning Turo. Read In Pursuit To Ban Turo Hawaii Rentals Permanently.
Kauai LIH Airport parking is full.
The state said yesterday that “public parking at Lihue Airport (LIH) is full.” While the state thinks that parking may become available again following spring break, we’re not so sure. Airport parking looks to be getting worse, much worse.
On Kauai, the state asked that those traveling be “dropped off at the airport to ensure they have enough time to clear security and board flights,” since the 675 available parking stalls are now occupied.
New Car Rental Facility at Honolulu Airport Now Open
Here are all the details of the New Car Rental Facility at Honolulu Airport Now Open. At Honolulu, the new consolidated car rental facility features more than 5,000 parking spots. An additional 700 HNL parking spots were just added in the past few weeks.
Disclosure: We receive a small commission on purchases from some of the links on Beat of Hawaii. These links cost you nothing and provide income necessary to offer our website to you. Mahalo! Privacy Policy and Disclosures.
Scott V says
When we planned to come to Lihue there were absolutely no rental cars available because the rental companies sold off their fleet during the pandemic. We used turo and the car was dropped off the same day we flew in and was there for us when we arrived. It was a life saver for us. To now ban turo is an attack by corporate rental companies on private enterprise and local citizens who are just trying to get by. It’s a dirty shame that government would cowtow to the rental agencies and pass such blatant anti-business legislation. Why can’t the rental companies just lower their prices and be competitive with turo instead of using government Schills to ban their competition? They’ve lost my business.
Kylie S. says
The people renting out these turos are individuals and locals who are just trying their best to afford to live in Hawaii. And the rental companies hate it because it takes away some of their business (even though they frequently don’t have enough cars to meet the demand anyway). This is obviously propaganda paid for by the big companies who want to push out the little guy. The people in these comments complaining about minor inconveniences to their day are literally working against their friends and neighbors.
Devlin Y says
What’s the difference between people using Turo and companies leaving work vehicles at the parking lot for their workers? I see a lot of company vehicles in the Lihue airport parking lot.
Rui says
More regulatory arbitrage apps for an increasingly unconscious society. Regulations exist to protect the public. You can’t go murder someone because you want. But, That’s the car renters philosophy, they don’t have to follow the rules because it’s an app,,, just like rideshare (the name is even bogus, who is sharing a ride!!). Glad to see many people know this is a problem and rules exist for a reason. And all you folks who can’t navigate life without an app,,,, look up and see the world.
JohnW says
Good point, there was an editorial in todays Star Advertiser trying to justify vacation rentals as good for the economy with little acknowledgement of the problems they can cause. The writer seemed to think it was his Constitutional right to use his property as he saw fit with little regard for the potential impact on others.
PJ R says
Aloha,
Thanks for the comments. Who do you think wants Turo outlawed? Who do you think is blaming Turo for the parking problem. Car Rental Lobbyist who have your politicians ear. They hate Turo because Turo is competition.
People don’t make money Parking their cars. They make money from people driving them. Cars are not sitting around taking up parking spaces for long periods of time. They are mostly on the road.
Cars are coming and going in the parking lot not just sitting.
Laila S says
I think it’s a red herring. Yes, I’m sure people do drop off/pick up Turo cars but I doubt they are staying very long in practice. Me leaving my car for 10 days while I left for the holidays had much more of an impact. At some point, it’s just poor parking management. Maybe there should be more reserved short term parking. Maybe there should be economy lots off site. Either way, parking is a money maker for airports, they can and should figure it out.
Brandon G says
Last thing we want is gov interfering with folks who are just trying to make a dollar. High taxes, car registration fees, can’t gamble, can’t buy crypto, rail, about to add more tax to electric vehicles, they don’t stop.
Kauaidoug says
Here we are on Kaua’i dealing with 2022 issues with whenever this lot and airport was planned, 30 years ago or whenever. Is this another example of overtourism or not keeping up with demand? As was discussed frequently recently we need to seek a balance and there’s the rub. Thank you for your reporting.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Doug.
Thanks for all of your help!
Aloha.
john says
Turo hosts spend 100% of their money here at home. Avis/Hertz etc–a large percentage leaves the islands immediately. Why not support local hosts and not mainland comp
anies?